Elizabeth Evans, a girl with a far-from-ordinary life, is beyond excited to be a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She knew that this school would change her life, she just didn't know how much.
(Set in Hogwarts Era, with portions set Post-Marauders)

When Lily woke up the next morning, she didn’t know where she was. She was in a strange bed, and sunlight was shining through the open window. It had to be at least 10 o’clock! How was it possible for her to have slept that late with a newborn baby?

Elizabeth. She thought.

Lily threw the covers off of herself, not caring that they crumpled into a pile on the floor, she couldn’t hear her daughter, couldn’t see her. She went into a panic, barging through the door and down the stairs looking frantically all over for her baby. She reached the kitchen and stopped short. There she was. Safe in James’ arms.

Wait, James? James Potter?

Suddenly everything came back to her, the awful fight she had with Sev, meeting James at the Leaky Cauldron, and coming here. To his home. She let out an audible sigh of relief, James looked up, noticing her for the first time. She looked frantic. Her eyes were wild and she was breathing heavily. Her faded pink sweatshirt hung off of her right shoulder, It looked rather attractive that way, he mused. He blinked as he realized how frightened she must have been to wake up in a strange place, and not know where her daughter was.

“Oh thank god.” She exhaled.

“Oh my god Lily, I am so sorry.” He started, “I just, I thought you might need some rest so I took her downstairs, I never meant to scare you. I swear Lily, I am so sorry.”

Lily smiled, “Thank you James. That was the first morning since she was born that I have slept past six. I’m just glad she’s alright and safe.” Lily walked over and peered at her girl, she wasn’t sleeping, but she seemed quite comfortable in James’ arms. Me too kid. She tickled her daughter’s nose, walked over to the cupboard, and retrieved a coffee mug. The coffee had gotten cold, so she warmed it with a quick spell. She breathed in the hypnotizing aroma and took a sip. Aside from the short panic attack, she felt like today was going to be better than the previous weeks had been.

James watched her drink the coffee, she seemed….better? no, better wasn’t the word he wanted. He searched his mind for a few moments, collected, he decided. She seemed more collected this morning. He guessed that it was a good thing, that it meant that she was putting the pieces of her life into place. He only hoped he would be one of those pieces.

*****

“Hey James, got your owl. What’s the big— LILY!” Before she knew what was happening she’d been tackled and nearly bowled over by Sirius Black., her coffee mug nearly falling out of her hands.

“Lily, it’s been ages! Where have you been young lady?! Don’t you ever scare me like that again!” He scolded

“Oh!” She squeaked, “Sirius!” Lily laughed for the first time in what seemed like forever. Then someone else walked in, he stopped a few feet away and smiled. This time the tackle-hug was from Lily.

“Remus! Oh my god I have missed you!”

“Lily? How did you—? But when—? I don’t even care! It’s good to see you!”

Sirius chuckled and muttered under his breath “Really makes a guy feel special, huh Prongs?” James snorted trying not to laugh. He handed Elizabeth over to Sirius and went to stand behind Lily. He put his hands on her shoulders and whispered in her ear,

“Welcome home.”

Lily nearly started crying again, she hadn’t seen Remus or Sirius since they’d graduated, and James as well, until a few days ago. She felt guilty for not keeping in contact with the boys who had been her closest friends. She felt so loved, and so lucky that after all of this time they still welcomed her warmly. It was as if she’d never left.

“To whom does this baby belong?” Sirius asked, “I like her. She’s cute. Can I keep her? I’m keeping her. I will raise her to proudly defy the Black family’s pureblood ways, she will be great. I shall call her Godrica!” He exclaimed triumphantly.

“Well Sirius, that baby is mine. Her name is Elizabeth.” Lily giggled.

“Elizabeth huh? Not nearly as cool as Godrica. You should definitely change it.” Sirius stated.

*****

The rest of the day passed happily. With chit chat about how the last year had been, the news of the day, even the weather. Lily really enjoyed spending time with her three friends, the best part, she thought, was watching three manly-macho-men fawning over Elizabeth playing peek-a-boo and putting on silly voices.

“James,” she started, “I’ve only just noticed, but, where is Peter?”

“Oh,” said James, looking around as if only realizing now that the fourth Marauder hadn’t shown up. “I sent him an owl, guess he must have been busy.”

“I really ought to be going, It’s getting pretty late. It was really nice to see you Lily” He smiled at her, “See you soon.”

“Yep, I should probably be going as well, who knows what kind of trouble Kreacher’s making in the ‘Noble House of Black’. Try not to miss me too much!” Sirius winked.
The two men walked out of the front door and down the street. Sirius reached for Remus’ hand.

“I’m glad she’s back.” He said with a sigh, leaning his head on Remus’ shoulder.

“Me too, Sirius, me too.”

*****

A few more weeks passed in a similar way, spending time with the Marauders, Peter included, and often just with James. Lily was growing increasingly nervous, she and James had talked about many things, but never about that night in Hogsmead. Lily knew the subject had to be broached, and soon, because that night was not going to go away.

“Umm James, I really need to talk to you.” She glanced down at her feet.

James was alarmed. What had happened?

“A few weeks ago, like four, when we met in Hogsmead?”

James nodded.

“Well I’ve been to St. Mungos, and—“ She placed a hand on her stomach, and looked at James “and I’m pregnant.” She whispered.

James stared at her. Then his face split into an enormous grin. He picked her up and twirled her around, laughing.

“So, you’re—you aren’t mad?” Lily said sheepishly.

“Mad? Lily this is wonderful! I am in LOVE with you, and now… now you’re carrying my child! Lily I want to be with you, forever. It will be the four of us, together, a family!” He beamed.

Tears welled up in her eyes. He had said four, he included Elizabeth as well, even though she was the child of a man he despised, he wanted her too. How could she have been so lucky?

James bounded over to the bassinet where ten-week-old Elizabeth was sleeping, he picked her up and said,

“I love your mommy, I love her so much, we’re going to be a family, and you are going to get a new brother.”

“Brother?” Lily asked.

“Yes. Brother. I’ve already decided that it’s a boy.” He nodded.

“Oh really? Is that how it works? You just decide that our baby is going to be a boy?”

“Our baby.” He smiled. “I just want to keep saying that. Our baby.”

“I like that. Our baby.” Lily walked over and hugged him.

This was the happiest James had ever been. He had loved Lily forever, it broke his heart when she left him at the end of sixth year, but those feelings never went away. Suddenly she was back, she was with him telling him that she never stopped loving him either. The last few weeks had been the best in his life now that Lily was with him, and now she was carrying his child. He was filled with an absurd amount of joy the moment she told him, he wanted to spend the rest of his life hugging her.

“Lily,” James said, breaking the hug, “I know that it’s only been like a month, and I was going to wait, because I knew you had so much going on in you life, and I didn’t want to add to that or make it worse, or have to hate me or make you feel—“

“Then marry me. Marry me and we can spend the rest of our lives making each other happy.”

She looked up at him and nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. How was it that after her life had fallen apart it could be so wonderful?

“That’s a yes?” James grinned.

“Yes.” She laughed. This moment was perfect.

A/N Hi. I see that you've stuck around for the second chapter. ¡Muchas gracias amigo/a! Many thanks are in order. Since I'm just starting out, I would loveloveLOVE a review from you to let me know how I'm doing! Thanks!